The Yacht Party

Yacht Party, The (1932)

*** (out of 4)

Warner short has Roger Wolfe Kahn and his orchestra working on a yacht where they go into several famous music numbers including You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?), Way Down Yonder in New Orleans, Crazy People and Sweet and Hot. If you're a fan of these early music-laden shorts then this one here will certainly keep you entertained. There's no question directors like Mack had to work with a very low budget as the yacht here is obviously a set but that's okay as it doesn't take anything away from the real reason to watch. The musical numbers are a lot better than one might expect as Kahn comes off very relaxed and entertaining. He has a certain charm that really jumps off the screen even though we don't get to see him too much. The highlight of the film would have to be Melissa Mason who does an incredibly strange dance where she kicks her legs just about every way possible and most of the time she's doing it in a non-human way. You're eyes will certainly be glued to her act as I really don't recall seeing anything like it before.

In medieval times Roger Wolfe Kahn would have been called a Renaissance man. Son of banker Otto Kahn he was a child of privilege and got a privileged education to match. He did not enter his father's field but the yacht setting for this short subject certainly reflects his background.

Kahn had two passions, music and aviation. He led a society band during the 20s and 30s and among other hits he had we hear Crazy Rhythm on this short. We also hear Gertrude Niesen sing and the amazing rubber legged Melissa Mason dance.

Kahn himself must have insisted on flying that biplane away on an exit. That's really him doing it. He was a test pilot for Grumman in the upcoming war.

30s music at its best.

A Warner Brothers Vitaphone Short Subject.

With music provided by Roger Wolfe Kahn & His Orchestra, THE YACHT PARTY provides some snappy music for a few idle rich guests.

Without enough plot to hang a yachtsman's hat on, this short film is simply an excuse for a few minutes of silly songs. Highlights are comic singer Gertrude Niesen's impersonation of Lyda Roberti and incredibly double-jointed Melissa Mason performing a solo dance in which she does things with her legs which scarcely seem human. Rich kid Kahn produces some enjoyable music; the final moments, in which he supposedly conducts his orchestra from a biplane, presages his eventual career change to airplane design & testing. Music mavens will spot an unbilled Artie Shaw playing the clarinet.

Often overlooked or neglected today, the one and two-reel short subjects were useful to the Studios as important training grounds for new or burgeoning talents, both in front & behind the camera. The dynamics for creating a successful short subject was completely different from that of a feature length film, something akin to writing a topnotch short story rather than a novel. Economical to produce in terms of both budget & schedule and capable of portraying a wide range of material, short subjects were the perfect complement to the Studios' feature films.

In this Vitaphone short, Roger Wolfe Kahn and his orchestra offer a rather silly but consistently interesting selection of music, including a lively trio of songs about craziness: "Crazy Rhythm," "You're Driving Me Crazy" and "Crazy People."

Kahn didn't have to go into music. He could have joined his father, Otto Kahn, in his famous banking business. Instead he did this several years, before throwing it all in to become a test pilot for Grumman. Perhaps that's why he ends this short by cutting didoes in a biplane.

The other highlight of this short subject is Melissa Mason doing a funny eccentric dance while the band plays "Dinah." It's certain a busy one-reel movie!